Disclaimer—I don't own or make claim to the characters from The Walking Dead. I only own my original characters

I startle out of sleep abruptly, breathing heavily. It takes me a minute to get my bearings and remember where I am. Once I remember, I look at the bedside clock, it's 2am. As I continue to pant on the bed, I know I'm not going to get any more sleep--the nightmare is still vividly in my brain.

I get up and see my notes from the war council sitting on the floor where I dropped them before getting into bed. Well, that's a project that needs to be done, I think, gathering up the notes and heading downstairs to the office the prior owners kept.

Luckily they had not password protected their computer and the printer was a USB connection. A full Microsoft suite of products was already installed, as I'd verified earlier. I set to work typing up my notes and assembling them into a project plan. Hey, I used to do this every time I implemented something at work, and it's even more important that we cover all our bases for a war, right? I can assign due dates, person responsible and all, right in my excel spreadsheet. Yeah, I know, I'm a nerd.

After a couple hours work, I have all of our ideas drafted out into phases and a spreadsheet prepared that we can work through to assign people and due dates. With this I can make sure everyone knows what they are responsible for and we can stay on target. Counting today, It's only eight days until the saviors meeting on the first Friday of the month. We'll need every little bit of organization we can summon to meet this deadline, to be prepared. I've never planned a more important project. This one has to work and has to be successful. Every piece is contingent on another piece being done right.

Once I verify I have all the pieces and everything looks right, I print 5 copies--one for each community leader and one for me so I have a reference if they ask me questions. I decide everything is so quiet that I may as well deliver it to the war room in preparation for tomorrow's follow-up meetings. I walk over to Rick's garage door, hoping it will be unlocked. Yes! It is. Hmmm, for someone who likes to tell others to lock their doors he's not a very good example, I think snarkily to myself. Ah well, it works in my favor this time.

I lay out the paperwork at each leader's spot--where they sat today is likely where they'll sit again tomorrow. Apocalypse or not, we humans are still creatures of habit when we can be.

I head back out the garage door, casting a satisfied look at what I've left for them. Sitting on the table with the black title a contrast to the white paper, 'A Project Plan for War' has been delivered and is waiting for their approval. My mission complete, I go tumble back into bed, finally tired again.

The next morning, I wake up to Kayla knocking on my door. She opens the door hesitantly and comes in. "What is it," I ask. She responds, "Oh, I'm so glad you're awake! Michonne is downstairs asking for you to come to the war room. Rick stopped by last night looking for you too, but you were already asleep."

I laugh. "Well thanks for being my message service. Sorry, tell Michonne I'll be right over. What did Rick want?"

"He just said he needed to talk to you, wanted to know more about the trip to Hilltop or something."

I nod and she heads downstairs to deliver my message. I quickly get dressed and grab an apple and walk over to the 'war room' garage while eating it.

When I walk in, there are already many there. Rick, Daryl and Abraham are having an intense discussion and Glenn, Sasha, Michonne and Rosita are listening. I don't see Jesus, Cyndie or King Ezekiel though.

When they hear me walk in they all turn to look. Rick asks, "Did you do this?" gesturing with one of my project plans in his hand.

"Yeah, I figured it might clarify to put it together in phases and the order things would have to happen," I reply.

Michonne looks up from where she's thumbing through a copy. "This is great, it sums it up so we can be organized about it and make sure all the steps get done."

I smile, "That's the plan."

Rick gestures to me to sit down. "Have a seat, I have some questions about yesterday for you."

I sit down and look up at him still standing above me. Why does this feel like the principal's office? "OK, shoot," I respond.

He says, "Don't get me wrong," Oh boy, here we go, I think to myself. "I'm grateful that you were able to round up some other communities to help us with Negan. But...what were you thinking?" he asks as his voice raises.

I exchange a look with Michonne who looks as surprised as I feel. I look back at Rick, who's looking upset. "What do you mean?" I ask. Gonna need some clarification here. I don't understand what he's upset about.

"You were just supposed to take Maggie to Hilltop and then come back. You could have been back that night, but instead you drove all over creation while the saviors were out there trolling for people to hurt. Jesus tells me you went through not one, but two roadblocks. Then you made pit stops at other communities and altogether were out on the road longer than you had to be."

I just stare back at him, in shock.

"So," he continues, "I'd like to know what you were thinking? Putting yourself, and your children, at risk like that."

I jump up out of my chair, furious. "I thought I was helping a community I've come to love have half a chance at surviving, that's what I thought I was doing!" I exclaim, practically in his face. Michonne puts a calming hand on my shoulder saying, "Woah, I think we all need to just calm down here." I turn to face her, saying, "Calm down?! He just basically accused me of not knowing what I'm doing and putting my kids lives at risk. I knew exactly what I was doing and just how much risk there was. With Negan's orders that risk was practically zero."

Rick pinches his nose with his fingers, takes a deep breath and says, "I know that you think the risk was zero, but you're telling me that none of his men hassled you at all? They didn't give you any trouble?"

I hesitate, thinking of Simon, and Rick zeroes in on that saying, "Something happened." He cocks his head and stares me down, trying to force the information from me. I roll my eyes and say, "No, nothing happened. Yes, one of them pushed a little harder but it wasn't anything I wasn't expecting. He's an ass and I pushed back, he let me through, end of story." Rick's eyes get wider and wider as I say this and he exclaims, "I knew it! I knew it wasn't as straightforward as you made it out to be. You realize that if you'd pushed him too hard, he may have taken you out regardless of Negan?!" I shake my head. "No. They are scared of Negan, they know he means what he says. He'd be signing his own death warrant if he went against him."

Rick walks in a small circle and back again, huffing his breath out in frustration. He's frustrated? I'm beyond frustrated. "What's with the 3rd degree anyway? You told me that you trusted me and my abilities before I left. I brought you allies for heaven's sake, and all I get now is attitude? I kept my promise. I took extra care. I got Maggie there. I came back, not only alive, but with reinforcements. We have a plan, an actual viable plan. Are we going to do this or what?!" I take a breath. "Or are you going to chuck it all out because you think I took too long getting back? Can I point out I said I'd be back by last night and I got here by mid-morning. Technically I was early!"

It's silent for a minute, you can feel the tension in the air. Then, unexpectedly, Daryl speaks up, looking at Rick and putting his hand on his arm. "Hey. She's right, she did good. The others seem like good allies and the plan is a good one."

Abraham agrees saying, "Hell, we got all we need to whip up some whoop ass to rain down on the saviors parade." Rick looks between the two of them and then to Michonne who says, "It's a good plan. She helped us more that we could ever have dreamed of. And she came back. She didn't have to." Glenn adds his two cents, "I know it's selfish, but I'm glad she helped Maggie. What does it matter if it took her a little longer to get home. She brought a way out of this back with her. A way to live."

Rick nods and looks down in contemplation. "Right," he says. He looks at me. "I do appreciate what you did. I just wish you hadn't risked yourself out there..." I cut him off. "I wasn't at risk. I promise. I knew what I was doing every step of the way. I even accurately predicted the saviors reactions." I'm not giving an inch on this. He needs to know that others may be obedient little minions, but that's not me and never will be. I've always been independent and I don't see that changing anytime soon. In short, he isn't the boss of me. Juvenile, I know, but an accurate summation. I stare him down intently, trying to convey my thoughts.

He finally nods and starts to say something else when the King walks in followed by Cyndie and Jesus. "Good morrow my friends! I have slept on our plan and it still looks bright this morning. Let us continue our discussion," the King declares. Cyndie and Jesus also murmur good morning. I greet Cyndie with a hug and walk with her over to the table. Rick invites them to sit down to review the plan, indicating the project plans in front of them. Michonne hands hers to Jesus.

Rick says, "Sandi took all our ideas and typed them up into a pretty detailed project plan. Sandi, would you like to review with us?" He smiles at me and I just stare him down. He can't think he's just forgiven for doubting me that easily. The moment draws out uncomfortably long until I finally let him off the hook. I pick up my copy and flip it open. "OK, if everyone can turn to page one." We all start to discuss the different phases and steps. We make good progress and refine a few things as we progress through the plan. We get to the point where the walkers descend on the Sanctuary when Rick looks up at me, pinning me with his gaze. He says, "You put in the step we ruled out last night."

"Oh," I respond innocently. I know exactly what step he's referring to. Dang. I hoped he might overlook that one.

"Yes," he continues. "The part where you try to kill Negan as walkers are filling the Sanctuary. We decided that was unsafe and we'd wait him out, remember?" He eyes me suspiciously.

I keep my gaze steady. "Oh right, I must have forgotten to line that one out. Whoops."

He narrows his eyes at me. He's not buying it for a minute. I decide I may as well sell it again. "But if you think about it," I say, "It makes a lot of sense."

He glares at me. "It doesn't make any sense at all! Wade into a herd of walkers, voluntarily, to maybe try and get a chance to kill him. It's better to wait it out."

"Whatever you say boss," I salute him and draw a line through that item on my project plan. Yeah, I'm a smartass sometimes.

The other leaders agree with Rick. Again. I'm overruled. Again. Hmmm. Rick casts me a suspicious look when I finish lining through the item. I just smile, blandly, as if all's right with the world.

We make it through the rest of the plan quickly and agree this is the finalized version. We start assigning people to be responsible for tasks and I scribble frantically, making sure I have the right information so I can update the plan. Then we talk timeline. Rick says, "The timing is going to be crucial for everyone to get their tasks done on time. We only have 8 days, counting today, until we have to be ready. Everyone look over the tasks you or your community is responsible for and the date you need to get them done. I need to know now if you can do it and meet these deadlines?" They all flip through their plans again, someone asking me every now and then to clarify a date. When they are done, all three leaders commit to Rick that they will have their responsibilities done by the date required. They get up to leave, indicating it's time for them to return home so they can prepare their people and complete their tasks on time. Arrangements for a quick meeting in Alexandria are made for early next week. Everyone starts to file out of the garage. I'm following when I hear Rick say, "Sandi, can you stay for a minute?" My heart falls, I really don't want to get into it with him again right now. Especially not alone.

Just then the garage door opens to the house and we can all hear Judith wailing. Carl pokes his head out. "Dad. Judy won't stop crying. I can't figure out what's wrong." On a normal day I would have gone and comforted Judy. But, I have plans today and this distraction may be just what I need. Rick looks at me and then sighs. "I'll be right back," he says and I nod.

Once Rick walks inside, I grab Glenn just before he goes out the door. I whisper, "Grab your bag and meet me at the gate in 5." He looks at me in disbelief and then at the door Rick just disappeared through. "You wanna see Maggie or not?" I prod. He nods and then rushes out.

I grab a piece of paper off the table and quickly write a note for Rick.

Rick,

Sorry, couldn't wait. I told Jesus I'd give him a ride back to Hilltop after I drop Cyndie off at Oceanside.

I want to check on Maggie and I'm a grown up who can make my own decisions. Don't follow me, I'll be back tonight. It's even more important now that they don't find you until we can execute our plan.

-Sandi

PS I took Glenn with me. He needs to see Maggie something fierce and I promised her I'd get him there. Don't worry, I'll keep him safe. I have a plan.

PPS You trust me, remember? Prove it. Or was that just all talk and no substance?

I prop it up on the table where he's sure to see it and sprint out of the garage to grab my kids and tell them we gotta go, now. I just hope that Judy keeps Rick occupied long enough for us to make our escape.

Luckily the kids were all at home. They follow me down to the gate. I see Glenn and Jesus there, waving to the King as their truck pulls away. I wave as well.

I look at Jesus and Cyndie, "Wanna ride?" Jesus looks at me in disbelief. "You sure you wanna do this?" I shrug, "I told Glenn I'd take him to Maggie. And I promised Maggie I'd deliver him to Hilltop."

Jesus looks at Glenn and his bag. Glenn just shrugs. "Gotta do what ya gotta do," Glenn says. "And I gotta be with Maggie. Besides," he gestures to me, "she's going whether I come or not." I nod.

I look at Cyndie. "I can give you a ride as well," I state. She nods. We all go to the gate. Tobin is there and asks, "Where are you all going?"

"I'm taking these guys home and delivering Glenn to Maggie," I reply. "Ah, OK," says Tobin as he pulls the gate open for us.

I rush everybody out to the van and we load up. I glance back at Alexandria, trying not to think about Rick's reaction when he finds I've gone out again. I shrug, the man's gotta learn that I make my own decisions. I did leave a note after all.

A/N This chapter wasn't quite as exciting, but we have to do a few things before we get to the more exciting stuff. Things need to be set up, etc. Rick went a little over the top there, didn't he? She just did what she told them she was going to do. Taking a couple detours on the way back wasn't a big deal, was it? I mean, look at what she's set up for them, alliances and a real plan. Is Rick just being controlling or is he right to worry.

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